Chocolate Bombe Recipes

Steps:

• For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
• Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl and mix until well combined; set aside.
• Melt the butter and chocolate in a double boiler, then whisk together until fully combined. Pour the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and mix until fully combined. Fold in the flour and cocoa.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking sheet and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the bombe: Using a 4-inch ring cutter, cut a round from the baking sheet of brownies. Slice the remaining brownies into approximately 3-by-4-inch rectangles. You should have 10 rectangles. Keep 5 rectangles as they are and cut the other 5 in half to make triangles.
• Line a 2 1/2-quart (about 9 inches across) freezer-safe bowl with plastic wrap. Place the brownie round in the bottom of the bowl and, alternating between the rectangles and triangles, fill the sides of the bowl. Press the brownie pieces into the bowl so that the interior of the bowl is lined with brownies. Break off any excess that extends above the edge of the bowl. Make sure to press the seams together so there are no cracks. Break the remaining brownie pieces into small crumbles and reserve.
• Wrap a 5-inch freezer-safe bowl in plastic wrap from the bottom, combining the loose ends of the plastic wrap at the top.
• Spread the softened ice cream inside the large bowl over the brownie layer. You should have about a 2-inch-thick layer of ice cream. Place the 5-inch bowl inside the ice cream layer, pushing it into the ice cream slightly to create a well. Cover the top with plastic wrap and freeze until the ice cream is firm, about 2 hours.
• In a large chilled bowl, combine the heavy cream, granulated sugar and cocoa. Whip the cream with a whisk or electric hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and remove the small bowl. Pour the hot fudge into the well, then fill with the whipped cream. Combine the reserved brownie crumbles and walnuts and sprinkle over the top of the bombe. Cover with plastic wrap and push down to press the brownie crumbles into the bombe. Freeze until the whipped cream is frozen, about 2 hours.
• Remove the bombe from the freezer and place the bowl side into a large bowl of hot water for 1 minute. Remove the plastic wrap. Invert the bombe onto a large platter or plate. Remove the glass bowl and plastic wrap. Garnish with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Slice and serve.

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted and smooth, 1-2 minutes longer. Chocolate should not exceed 90°. , Add 1 tablespoon melted chocolate into a silicone sphere-shaped mold (2-1/2-in. diameter). Brush melted chocolate evenly inside molds, all the way to edges, rewarming melted chocolate as needed. Refrigerate molds until chocolate is set, 3-5 minutes. Brush a thin second layer of chocolate in molds. Refrigerate until set, 8-10 minutes. Place remaining melted chocolate into a piping bag fitted with a small round decorating tip; set aside., Remove chocolate spheres from molds. In a medium bowl, whisk together baking cocoa, milk powder and confectioners' sugar. Place 3 tablespoons cocoa mixture into half the chocolate spheres. Top with 1 tablespoon marshmallow bits. , Pipe a small amount of melted chocolate on edges of remaining spheres; carefully adhere to filled halves, pressing lightly to seal, using additional melted chocolate if necessary. If desired, decorate with optional ingredients. Refrigerate until set. Store in a tightly sealed container., To prepare hot chocolate: Place hot chocolate bomb in a mug; add 1 cup warm milk and stir to dissolve.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until smooth. Stir in the oats, cocoa and vanilla until well blended then stir in the coffee. Roll the dough into balls slightly smaller than a ping pong ball. Pour the pearl sugar into a saucer and roll the balls in the sugar. Refrigerate cookies for 1 hour before serving.

Steps:

• Position a rack in the bottom half of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Cut two 16-by-6-inch pieces of parchment. Butter and flour the inside of a 4-quart heat-safe bowl, press a piece of parchment paper against the bottom and up the side of the bowl. Press the remaining parchment on top of the first, turning it slightly so that the 2 pieces form an "X"; set aside. Butter and flour the bottom of a 2.5-quart heat-safe bowl; set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Beat together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture, beating just until incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and mix until combined.
• Put the dough into the larger prepared bowl. With generously floured hands, press the dough evenly up the side and across the bottom of the bowl (re-flour your hands as needed). Place the smaller bowl inside the larger bowl so that the buttered and floured bottom-side sits directly on top of the cookie dough. Bake until the cookie is a deep golden brown, 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cookie cool completely before removing the inner bowl, about 2 hours.
• To fill: Brush ice cream topping evenly over the inside of the cookie. Stack the peanut butter-filled chocolate cups in a tower in the middle of the cookie bowl. Let harden completely in the freezer, about 15 minutes.
• Spread half the ice cream in the bowl, working around the chocolate cup tower. Layer with 1 1/2 cups chopped candy bars then spread the remaining ice cream on top. Sprinkle with the remaining candy bars and cover with plastic wrap. Freeze until solid, 6 hours or up to overnight.
• Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Flip the cookie bombe upside down on a serving platter and lift off the bowl and parchment strips. Decorate with whipped cream and sprinkles around the base and top of the bombe. Slice with a very hot, sharp knife as you would a cheesecake.

Steps:

• Coating:
• 1 (12-ounce) package chocolate chips, (2 cups) dark, semisweet or mini semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)
• Optional toppings: whipped cream lightly sweetened with honey and a light dusting unsweetened cocoa powder, for garnish
• Chill a medium mixing bowl in the refrigerator. Meanwhile, place the cold water in a small bowl, sprinkle with gelatin and let stand 1 minute. Add boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Set aside. In the chilled bowl, combine the cocoa powder, salt, whipping cream and vanilla until roughly mixed. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream mixture until it becomes stiff. Do not over-beat or you will end up with chocolate butter. Beat in the gelatin mixture just until combined. Spoon chocolate mousse into decorative molds, dessert dishes or martini glasses. Refrigerate the molds for 1 to 2 hours.
• Cover a sheet pan with waxed paper. Place chocolate chips and shortening in medium heat-proof bowl. In separate large heat-proof bowl, add very warm water (100 to 110 degrees F) to 1-inch depth. Carefully place bowl with chocolate into bowl of water. The water should come halfway up side of chocolate bowl. Stir chocolate and shortening constantly with dry rubber scraper until chocolate and shortening are melted and mixture is smooth. Do not get water into the bowl with chocolate. (If water cools, replace it with very warm water as directed above; water temperature is important to success). Remove chocolate bowl from inside water bowl. Remove the filling from molds and place on the waxed paper lined sheet pan. Pour chocolate mixture over the filling, and remove excess chocolate from around the filling. Refrigerate coated bombs for 1 to 2 hours before serving. Garnish, as desired.

Steps:

• Line a 1 1/2 quart glass or stainless bowl with plastic wrap, leaving enough excess hanging over the edge, and stick it in the freezer.
• In a medium pot, combine the cherries, 1 cup of sugar, lemon juice, kirsch, and 3/4 cup of water. Simmer over medium-high heat until the juice from the cherries is released and the fruit is soft, about 20 minutes. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry and add it to the cherry mixture. Simmer, stirring, for another 2 minutes to thicken. Remove the cherry sauce from the heat, you should have about 4 cups. Put the cherry sauce in the freezer or in an ice bath to chill until cold.
• Using a wire whisk, beat 2 cups of the heavy cream, the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, and vanilla together until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into half of the cherry mixture (2 cups) to make a light mousse - don't overdo it, it's ok if there are streaks of cream in the filling. Gently fold in the pistachios. Take the plastic-lined bowl out of the freezer and spoon the cherry mousse into it, filling it all the way to the top, and spreading evenly around the rim. Freeze again for at least 8 hours, so the mousse sets up firm.
• Heat the remaining 1 cup of cream and the chocolate in a pot over medium-low flame. Stir to melt the chocolate completely and smooth it out into the cream. Cool until warm to the touch, the chocolate should still be pourable.
• Take the bowl of cherry mousse out of the freezer and invert it, bottom-side up, on a wire rack set over a sheet pan. Carefully peel off the plastic and pour the chocolate ganache over the bombe to cover it completely, allowing the excess to drip down into the sheet pan. Stick the chocolate cherry bombe back in the freezer to chill. Using a couple of flat spatulas, carefully remove the bombe from the rack and put in on a chilled platter. Cut into wedges; serve with the reserved cherry sauce.

Steps:

• First make the cake: heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Lightly butter a Swiss roll tin and line the base with non-stick baking parchment. Put the whole eggs, egg yolks and caster sugar in a bowl and whisk with an electric hand whisk for 8-10 mins until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of almost simmering water, stirring occasionally.
• When the whisked egg mixture is light and fluffy, gently fold in the flour with a large metal spoon or the whisk blades, taking care not to lose too much volume. Beat a small amount of the egg mixture into the melted chocolate, then gently fold the chocolate into the remaining egg mixture. Pour into the prepared tin, then tilt the tin from side to side until even and the corners are filled. Bake for 10 mins until firm, then leave to cool completely.
• Line a 1-litre freezer-proof pudding basin with cling film. Cut a small circle of sponge cake to fit the base then cut triangular pieces to line the sides. Fill any gaps with trimmings and save the remaining sponge for later. Place the bowl in the freezer to firm up the sponge.
• Make the ice cream: slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways and remove the seeds. Put the milk, vanilla seeds and pod, orange zest, caster sugar and cream into a medium pan and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks together in a large bowl. Pour the hot cream mixture slowly on to the eggs, whisking all the time. Return the mix to a clean pan and stir constantly over a gentle heat for about 5 mins until the mixture has just thickened. Pass through a sieve and leave to cool for 30 mins. Churn in an ice-cream machine (or make by hand, see 'Try' below). Add the marmalade and continue to churn for another 10 mins until thick.
• Scoop the ice cream into the cake-lined bowl, leaving a central indent for the sorbet layer. Sit a small bowl in the top of the ice cream to make a smooth indent for the sorbet later to sit in. Freeze for at least 1 hr, until just firm.
• Fill the centre of the bombe with orange sorbet, cover the entire base of the bowl with a layer of sponge, cover with cling film and return to the freezer until needed, or at least 8 hrs ahead. This can be done well in advance and that's all the really hard work done.
• To make the hot chocolate sauce, grate the chocolate into a bowl and add the golden syrup, butter and warm water. Melt over a pan of just simmering water until melted, stirring occasionally.
• About 20 mins before serving, heat oven to 230C/fan 210C/gas 8. Whisk the egg whites and a pinch of salt in a large clean bowl until stiff but not dry. Whisk in the sugar, a little at a time, bringing it back to stiff peaks before each addition. Turn the bombe out onto an ovenproof serving dish and remove the cling film. Spoon the meringue all over the bombe to completely seal it. Using the back of the spoon or a palette knife, pull the meringue into dramatic swirls. Bake for 10-15 mins or until golden. Reheat the chocolate sauce over a pan as before or in a microwaveable bowl for 1 min on Low, stirring halfway through. Take the Chocolate orange bombe Alaska to the table immediately and serve sliced, drizzled with the hot chocolate sauce.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter 6 x 150ml ovenproof pudding moulds and put a disc of baking parchment in the base of each.
• To make the sponge, put the butter, chocolate and coffee in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Gently heat until melted, add the vanilla and stir to combine. Set aside to cool a little. Sift the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another bowl, then scatter in the sugar, breaking up any clumps of sugar with your fingers. Mix the eggs and yogurt in a jug. Add the chocolate mixture and the egg mixture to the flour, and stir everything with a spatula until there are no visible lumps of flour. Divide the mixture between the 6 moulds, put on a baking tray and cook in the centre of the oven for 30 mins or until a skewer pushed into the cakes comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Can be made up to 5 days ahead, wrapped well in cling film and stored in a sealed container; or freeze for up to 6 weeks.
• While the cakes cool, make the chocolate mousse. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then stir in the egg yolk. Whisk the egg white in another bowl until stiff, add the sugar and continue to whisk until glossy and thick. Pour the cream into a third bowl and lightly whisk until thick. Tip the cream into the chocolate and stir to combine. Add the beaten egg white and, using a metal spoon, fold together until there are no streaks of egg white remaining. Chill until needed.
• Line each pudding mould with cling film. Remove the tops of the cakes with a small serrated knife to create a flat surface. Carefully split the cakes into 2 or 3 layers through their middles. Reassemble the cakes in the pudding moulds, soaking each layer of sponge with the liqueur and layering with chocolate mousse. Cover the cakes with any overhanging cling film and press down gently. Chill the cakes for at least 3 hrs or for up to 2 days before serving.
• Melt the white chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Turn each cake out and unwrap. Drizzle the top of each with a little white chocolate, letting it drizzle down the sides. Decorate using a small sprig of real or artificial holly. Leave the white chocolate to set for 20 mins before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C. Grease a 1.7 litre/3 pint stainless steel mixing bowl and line the base (approx 9cm/31⁄2in) with a circle of greaseproof paper.
• Break the chocolate into pieces in a heatproof bowl. Add 25g/1oz of the butter and stand the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water until the chocolate has melted (or melt it in the microwave). Stir until smooth.
• Put the remaining butter in a separate bowl with the sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and 85g/3oz of the almonds. Beat together for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Spoon 350g/12oz of this mixture into another bowl and stir in the cocoa powder and milk. Stir the remaining almonds and the vanilla extract into the remaining plain cake mixture.
• Spread a little of the vanilla mixture in the base of the bowl. Top with a spoonful of the cocoa mixture, then a little of the chocolate sauce, taking care not to let the chocolate sauce get near the edge of the bowl or it will burn during baking. Continue to alternate the three mixtures in the bowl, placing large spoonfuls in at random and spreading them slightly to mix up the colours. Level the surface, then swirl a skewer or the end of a teaspoon through the mixture, two or three times, to ripple the colours together. Don't overmix or the colours will lose their definition.
• Bake for 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes until the cake is risen and the surface feels firm to the touch. To check that the cake is done, pierce the light part of the cake with a skewer - it should come out clean. Leave to cool in the bowl, then loosen the edges and invert the cake on to a flat serving plate.
• Make the chocolate cream. Heat the cream in a small heavybased saucepan until hot and beginning to bubble round the edges. Add the chocolate pieces and remove from the heat, stirring gently. Pour into a bowl and leave until the chocolate has melted. Chill for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture just holds its shape when beaten.
• Using a palette knife, swirl the chocolate cream over the top and sides of the cake. Slice the candied fruits and use to decorate the top of the cake. Keep in a cool place (not the fridge) until ready to serve. This is a luxurious dessert, so serve thin slivers with a dollop of crème fraîche to cut through the richness.

Steps:

• Line a 6 cup (1. 5 L) mixing bowl with plastic wrap and drizzle inner surface with melted chocolate (criss-cross thin lines); freeze
• WHITE MOUSSE: In a saucepan sprinkle gelatine over cream. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Bring cream to a boil; remove from heat.
• Add white chocolate and butter; stir until melted.
• Blend in egg yolks.
• Beat egg whites until frothy; gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into chocolate mixture; pour into prepared bowl.
• Freeze 30 minutes.
• DARK MOUSSE: Prepare the dark mousse layer following the white mousse directions, omitting gelatine step.
• Freeze until set, at least 8 hours.
• Unmould onto serving plate, remove plastic wrap.

Steps:

• Put 12 silicone semi sphere moulds (ours were 7cm) flat on a baking tray. Using a pastry brush, brush the chocolate over the inside of the moulds until they're all covered - don't worry about being too precise.
• Tip the moulds upside down and shake the excess chocolate onto some baking parchment, and scrape the top using a palette knife. Place back on the baking tray, and in the fridge for 10 mins to set completely. If your remaining melted chocolate has hardened, give it a quick burst in the microwave to melt.
• Brush the second layer of chocolate in the moulds so they're evenly covered. Place flat on the baking tray again and leave to set in the fridge for 1 hr or overnight. Once set, carefully remove from the mould by peeling back one side and get ready to assemble by getting your hot chocolate and marshmallows.
• Place a frying pan over a high heat for 1 min until hot. Remove from the hob and place one of the chocolate spheres down on it for a second. Fill with 1 tsp of the hot chocolate powder and 1 tbsp of the marshmallows. Briefly place another one of the chocolate spheres down on the warm frying pan, and press both spheres together to form a filled ball. Repeat until you have six filled hot chocolate bombs.
• To decorate, dust them all over with edible gold lustre. Heat up a mug of milk and stir in the hot chocolate bomb to serve.